White House blocks Politico from Air Force One amid press access lawsuit

The White House has blocked Politico from traveling aboard Air Force One for a presidential trip, preventing the news organization from fulfilling its press corps pool responsibilities on Monday, October 5, 2026. This action follows a previous exclusion of CNN from the presidential plane and comes amidst an ongoing legal dispute regarding media access. Politico was slated to be the designated print pool representative for the trip.

This recent incident stems from President Donald Trump's September 18, 2026 announcement to ban Politico, CNN, and MS NOW from the White House, citing their reporting as "fake news." The news outlets subsequently filed a lawsuit on September 21, 2026, alleging that the ban violates First and Fifth Amendment rights. A federal judge had previously issued a temporary restraining order, reinstating the journalists' White House press badges, but the White House argues this order does not extend to "tight spaces" like Air Force One.

The legal battle is ongoing, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026, where the news organizations will seek a preliminary injunction to ensure broader and more sustained press access. The White House's actions are expected to be incorporated into the next legal filing by the affected news outlets, continuing to raise concerns about media freedom and the ability of the press to cover the presidency.